O Pos, O Neg blood needed by Red Cross due to state shortage

The American Red Cross is asking Georgians with type O negative or O positive blood as well as those eligible to give platelets to donate right away because of a severe statewide shortage of these important blood components.

Currently there are less than 12 hours of type O blood available to the 130 hospitals supplied by the Red Cross and only 34 units of platelets in the state.

Type O negative blood can be safely transfused to a patient with any blood type and type O positive blood can be safely transfused to 84 percent of the American population. This makes type O blood a critical tool that is used extensively in emergency rooms and for newborns.

Platelets are the clotting component in blood and are needed by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and patients receiving organ transplants, among others. To donate platelets, an appointment is necessary at a Red Cross Donor Center. Both platelet and blood donation appointments can be made by calling 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800448-3543.)

"Since Labor Day we have struggled to maintain an adequate supply of type O blood and platelets," says Mario Sedlock, director of donor services for the American Red Cross Southern Region. "Other states are also reporting shortages and cannot send us any of these key blood components, so Georgia must be self-sufficient right now."

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